Performance enhancements in next generation wireless networks using network coding : a case study in WiMAX

Abstract

In this thesis, we design and implement a network-coding-enhanced network architecture for next generation wireless networks. The architecture applies intra-session random linear network coding as a packet erasure code below the IP layer. Using WiMAX as a case study, a series of point-to-point single-interface experiments are conducted to compare the performance of the architecture to that of HARQ and ARQ mechanisms. The performance measures are packet loss percentage, throughput and file transfer delay. The experiments use the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) WiMAX platforms. UDP traffic considered; Iperf and UDP based File Transfer Protocol (UFTP) are used as measurement applications. The proposed architecture substantially decreases packet loss percentage from around 11-32% to nearly 0%. Compared to HARQ and ARQ mechanisms, the architecture can offer up to 5.9 times gain in throughput and 5.5 times reduction in end-to-end fi le transfer delay.